Whatever you settle on for cull numbers ... consider getting started on this now. Perhaps concentrate on those that have lagged the average growth the most. These should be mostly male fish and having fewer LMB nests may help you get through another year without recruitment of LMB.
FWIW, your growth is very good. You were averaging around .70 lbs last October 19th. The model predicts an average weight for females at 2.23 lbs on 9.21.25 for your average climate. So there are a number of possibilities:
1 There are larger females that have not yet sampled. 2 The model overestimates growth for the climate. 3. Forage availability was just marginally less than optimal 4. The climate was marginally cooler than average.
The difference over 11 months is marginal. And in IMO, the samples do not indicate underperformance. So what I am saying, IS, you should focus on maintaining this average growth that you are observing. It is very good.
Next year's growth will be around 70% of body mass if they grow maximally. You should not need to remove more than ~30% of the standing population to maintain 1.67 lbs of average annual growth. This assumes 10% annual natural mortality and that the pond produces the same weight of consumable forage that it did this year.
It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers
